Curlin proves he is the best

Monday

Oct 29, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 29, 2007 at 7:13 AM

Curlin blew away the competition Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Classic and clinched Horse of the Year honors, as well as champion 3-year-old colt.
The son of Smart Strike began his meteoric career on Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park with a 12 3/4-length win in his first start. After that impressive race, Midnight Cry Stable sold a majority interest to Satish and Anne Sanan's Padua Stable, Jess Jackson's Stonerstreet Stable and George Bolton.
From there, the big, physically impressive chestnut colt went on to two wins - the Rebel Stakes (gr. 3) and the Arkansas Derby (gr. 2) - by a total of almost 16 lengths.
Overcoming a rough trip and much traffic, Curlin's third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (gr. 1) was impressive, but the emphatic win by Street Sense and Hard Spun's game runner-up finish left doubt as to who was best.
In the Preakness Stakes (gr. 1) Curlin reclaimed his position as a possible super horse when he ran down the Derby hero by a head.
When Curlin couldn't get past Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (gr. 1), a heroine was added to the cast of superheroes running on America's racetracks.
Lawyer Ron joined the fray with two Grade 1 wins in the summer. Any Given Saturday joined in with three consecutive graded wins, including a win over Curlin and Hard Spun. Street Sense added two big wins to his resume, and Curlin came back with a dramatic neck win over Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. 1) to set the field of battle Saturday for year end honors.
Curlin left little doubt as he roared past Street Sense on the turn, caught the front-running Hard Spun in mid-stretch and powered away title clinching four-and-a-half length factory in the $5-million Classic.
What a great crop this is! And what a great year of racing they gave us. Curlin is a freak in the most positive sense of the word. I admire Hard Spun's speed, grit and determination. Street Sense is a very good horse. His ten-length Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. 1) win last year, his spectacular run in the Kentucky Derby this year, and his duel with Curlin in the Preakness were tremendous efforts.
In the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. 1), English Channel, another son of Smart Strike, probably locked up champion turf horse honors with his seven-length victory. The win undoubtedly gave Smart Strike the leading sire title, as English Channel and Curlin took down $4.32 million in purse money.
In reading the post race comments, I was struck by a single incongruity. I do believe the Europeans have an advantage on the turf. It is what they do, and what they breed horses for. And they should be respected for it.
However, in the past I have also heard that in some years they will not bring their best horses here because of the heat and firm turf in California and Florida. Well, Monmouth Park Saturday was anything but heat and firm turf.
With the favorite in all three turf races Saturday, the European owners, trainers and jockeys all used the weather and the soft turf as an excuse for their failed performances.
One European horse did manage a win, but that was Lahudood, a horse that has been based in the U.S. all year after racing in Europe last year. Of course, at 11-to-1, she needed no excuse.
The Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. 1) provided one of the most thrilling races as Florida-bred Ginger Punch and Hystericalady battled down the stretch with Octave making a scintillating run from far back to finish third by a neck. Ginger Punch won by a neck over Hystericalady.
Midnight Lute made a spectacular come-from-behind run to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr.1) by four-and-three-quarter lengths and probably win champion sprinter honors.
Impressive front runners claimed both of the Juvenile races. Indian Blessing went wrie-to-wire to win the Juvenile Fillies (gr. 1), and War Pass became the favorite for the Kentucky Derby next May with his four-and-three-quarter length front-front running victory.
Despite the rain, mud and soft turf, the Breeders' Cup did not disappoint with great races all day.

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